Families face the edge of the cliff on childcare as parents prepare to foot the bill for wraparound care

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Jeremy Hunt announced an "ambition" for all elementary schools to provide childcare between 8am and 6pm during his budget speech. last week - but when the "start-up money" runs out parents will be on the hook

The scheme is only funded for three years (

Image: PA)

Families face a precipice in childcare, with parents forced to pay for school childcare when government funding ends in two years, Labor has warned

Jeremy Hunt announced an “ambition” for all primary schools to provide childcare between 8am and 6pm during last week's budget speech.

The government will provide £289million in 'seed funding' over three years for schools to explore before and after school care options, with the aim of helping parents get back to work.

But there is no mention in the budget of funding after September 2026, leaving schools to fund programs themselves, out of already stretched budgets.

A Treasury spokesperson told Schools Week that it expects the programs to be "parent funded".

And work analysis revealed that the cost of breakfast and after-school clubs has already reached £2,572 per child per year, a 50% increase since 2010.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour's shadow education secretary, said: 'The Tories have not come forward with a bid, let alone a plan, for primary school children, just short-term pilot projects and Asking parents to pay for breakfast or after school clubs like they do now. It's even more sticky plaster politics."

The cost of after-school care has skyrocketed (

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Dr Lindsey MacDonald, CEO of charity Magic Breakfast, said it would only cost around £18million to extend the existing school breakfast scheme for 18 months.

This would allow an additional 2,500 schools to provide food and nutrition to support them throughout the school day.

She said, "It's a relatively nominal amount, part of a gift from the Chancellor."

She said an increase in 'comprehensive care' was welcome - but urged the government to think carefully about the kind of care provided.

"It's not about providing iPads as child care, just keeping them busy," she said. "You want the quality of this offering to really enable education and development.

"There are some great ways to spend £289m, and there are rather...